PRODUCTION STAFF BIOGRAPHIES
Walt Stepp (Playwright) Walt
Stepp’s previous plays have been Lightin Out: A Mark Twain
Musical (at the old Judith Anderson Theatre on Theatre Row) and
Lotta Latina and the Dominoes: A Watergate Musical. Like his present
play, they tried to answer serious questions entertainingly: Why
was America’s Humorist so blue at the end of his life? Why
did President Nixon self-destruct? A BIA kid, (Bureau of Indian
Affairs) raised on the Navajo reservation (federal government schools
in Ft. Defiance, AZ and Shiprock, NM), he is a graduate in English
from the University of Missouri – and the #1 school of Journalism
there. Beginning in Appalachia, he has taught at Nassau Community
College for thirty years.
Peter Westerhoff (Director) is
a Professor at Oklahoma State University, where he is the head
of the Directing Program. During his tenure at OSU, he has directed
over 50 productions including The Visit, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,
God’s Country, What the Butler Saw, Crazy
for You, Into the Woods, Equus and The Mikado. He has directed
over seventeen musicals for Connecticut Repertory’s summer
season such as Smokey Joe’s Café, Cabaret, Forever
Plaid, Sweet Charity, Lady Be Good!, Tintypes and Pirates of
Penzance. He has been nominated by the Connecticut’s
Outer Critic’s Circle for Best Choreography (Sweet Charity)
and Best Musical (Pirates of Penzance). He directed the American
Premiere of Exchange by Yuri Tifanov, translated by Michael
Frayn for the Blue Heron Theatre, NYC.
Julie Carpenter (Producing Director) has
worked with numerous theatre companies in New York. Throughout
the 90’s she was involved with the Synchronicity Theatre
Group in SoHo where she eventually became the General Manager.
She has acted, directed and washed the floors in many theatres.
She loves working with playwrights and encouraging the development
of new plays.
Jesi Thelen (Production Stage Manager) is
originally from Central Florida and holds a B.A. in Theatre and
Dance from Palm Beach Atlantic University. She is thankful and
excited to be working on this new production. Since moving to NYC
in January she has worked in the capacity of Production Stage Manager
and Assistant Stage Manager for Gallery Players in Brooklyn, Stage
Managed the workshop presentation of Hell's Kitchen The Musical
and Production Assisted Atlantic Theatre Company's workshop of
Spring Awakening. Most recently she has served as the Production
Manager for the New York Film Academy's summer program at Princeton
University. Jesi is also a freelance photographer working on building
a photography business focused in headshots and theatrical & dance
production. Jesi can be contacted by email at Jessica_Thelen@hotmail.com
“All Praise be to God, my Savior and Provider.”
Angela Allen (Asst. Stage Manager) is
a recent graduate of Hofstra University. She is the first person
ever to graduate from Hofstra with a BFA in Theatre Production,
with a Concentration in Stage Management. Some of her favorite
Stage Managing credits at Hofstra include Tartuffe, Dance Concert,
Strike Up The Band, A Mid Summer Night’s Dream, and The Vagina
Monologues. Angela was fortunate enough to be the Substitute Stage
Manager and Assistant Stage Manager for Tony n’ Tina’s
Wedding (Artificial Intelligence) during its 2003 season. Recently,
Angela has been a Production Assistant for Die Mommie! Die! (The
Actors’ Fund of America), Stars in the Alley (The League
of American Theatres and Producers), The J.A.P Chronicles (Richards/Climan,
Inc.), Broadway On Broadway (Richards/Climan, Inc.), and The Ark
(Richards/Climan, Inc.). Last month, Angela Stage Managed The 30th
Anniversary Celebration of The Thelma Hill Performing Arts Center
Dance Concert and Awards Ceremony (THPAC). Earlier this summer,
Angela had the wonderful opportunity to be the Assistant Stage
Manager for the 9th Annual Black Box Festival (The Gallery Players),
with Jesi Thelen as the Stage Manager. Angela is pleased and proud
to be joining forces with Jesi once again on what will prove to
be an exciting production!
Aaron P. Mastin (Set and Costume
Design) Aaron is a freelance costume and scenic
designer based in NYC. Recent projects include: Ragtime (NJPAC/WYACT)
Costume design, Everything About Camp Almost (TADA!) Set and
costume design. Broadway- The Odd Couple (Costume design assistant
to Ann Roth), Off Broadway- Naked Boys Singing (Wigs and wardrobe
supervisor) Feature Film/ Television- “The Good Shepherd” (wardrobe), “John
Adams” (Braintree Productions/HBO). Aaron designs regularly
for Manhattan Children’s Theatre, Battery Dance Co.,
and Riverside Center. In addition to designing for theater,
dance, and film Aaron is a Production Designer for New York
Fashion Week (B-Rude by Boy George, FORM, Ports 1961, Tomer
Design) and is Adjunct Faculty in Costume at York College,
CUNY. Aaron holds a BFA in Scenic and Costume Design from the
Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama.
Stephen Arnold (Lighting
Designer) With a degree in Theatre, Lighting
Design from Columbia College Chicago, Stephen’s most recent designs include,
Everything About Camp…Almost at TADA! Youth Theatre,
Still Life With Commentator premiering at the Brooklyn Academy
of Music (BAM) this December in the Next Wave Festival, Man
of LaMancha and The Diary of Anne Frank at Bayway Arts Center,
They Called Me Crack Baby…And Other Stories at Symphony
Space, Follow Me at Glad Tidings Tabernacle, Good, The Mandrake
and The Workroom at Manhattan Theatre Source. Stephen has also
worked with a myriad of companies around the country. Off Broadway:
New York Theatre Workshop, Playwrights Horizons. Off Off Broadway:
Praise Motion, Manhattan Children’s Theatre, Manhattan
Theatre Source, The Unbound Theater Company, Red Light District,
Harbor Theatre Company. Regionally: George Street Playhouse,
Princess Cruise Lines, Bristol Valley Theatre, Bayshore Theatre
Company, Breakbone Dance Company, River North Chicago Dance
Company, Visions & Voices Theater Company, The Journeymen
Theater Company, Circle Theater, and “Dance Chicago”.
Peter Sylvester (Sound Design) Peter has designed the sound
for numerous productions, primarily for the former Synchronicity
Theatre Group. He is also a playwright and a graduate of NYU’s
Interactive Telecommunications Program.
John Sisson (Technical Director & Master
Carpenter) John is a jack-of-all-trades. His
various careers have included inventor and New York City chef.
His theater experience dates back to high school, where he
found refuge on the stage - behind the scenery. For years,
he put his skills to work for the Synchronicity Theatre Group
in Soho of which he was a member. He is pleased to smell the
greasepaint once again and work with talented and dedicated
souls.
Cynthia Johnson
(Asst. Costume Designer) Cynthia holds a BFA degree in Dance
from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University.
While attending school, she performed with choreographers Sherry
Alban, John Evans, Randy James, and Julia Ritter. Upon completing
her degree, she performed with Randy James DanceWorks. Cynthia
has also assisted with costume design and been on wardrobe
for Everything About Camp (Almost) at the TADA! Theater and
Ragtime for NJPAC/WYACT, as well as having worked as a stage
manager for Nimbus Dance and Dance New Jersey.
Danica Pantic
(Production Associate) has dabbled in theater since middle
school, and is now studying it at Wesleyan University. She
has worked with the New 42nd Street, Inc. She is very excited
to be a part of this production, and is soaking up all the
experience like a sponge.
